Hailing from the small town of Troy, Ohio, Miss May I emerged as a formidable force in the American metalcore scene, notable for achieving significant success while its members were still in high school. Formed in 2007, the band’s original lineup consisted of vocalist Levi Benton, guitarists B.J. Stead and Justin Aufdemkampe, bassist Ryan Neff, and drummer Jerod Boyd. Their raw energy and technical proficiency quickly caught the attention of Rise Records, who signed the young group in 2008.
The band’s debut album, "Apologies Are for the Weak," released in 2009, served as their explosive introduction to the wider metal world. The record was a commercial success for a debut, reaching No. 76 on the Billboard 200 and establishing their signature sound of blistering riffs, pummeling breakdowns, and Benton’s distinctive vocal range. The album’s title track found a second life in the popular video game Saints Row: The Third, while another song, "Forgive and Forget," was featured on the soundtrack for the horror film Saw VI, broadening their audience beyond the traditional metalcore sphere.
Miss May I maintained a consistent and prolific output in the following years. They solidified their sound with their sophomore album, "Monument," in 2010, and continued to refine their approach with "At Heart" in 2012 and "Rise of the Lion" in 2014. A significant creative shift occurred with their fifth album, "Deathless," in 2015, which showcased a more melodic and anthemic direction. Following this release, the band amicably parted ways with Rise Records and signed with SharpTone Records in 2016. Their first album for the new label, "Shadows Inside," arrived in 2017, marking a new chapter that balanced their heavy roots with continued melodic evolution.
For over a decade and a half, Miss May I was celebrated for its remarkable lineup stability, a rarity in the genre. This era concluded in 2024 when founding guitarists B.J. Stead and Justin Aufdemkampe departed the band. Throughout their career, the group has been a staple on major touring festivals like Warped Tour and shared stages with numerous heavyweights. They returned in 2022 with their seventh studio album, "Curse of Existence," demonstrating their enduring presence and commitment to the metalcore genre they helped shape from their Ohio beginnings.
